Fundraising is hard and requires consistency and ongoing efforts. Building in ways to raise money online can help with some of that consistency, as well as utilizing your audience to shout your praises.
This post gives you 7 ideas for how you can raise money online to help support your overall organization. To keep it real, some of these things are easier than other. But just like in your offline fundraising, different sized gifts take different levels of effort. Pick one of these to get started with and go from there.
#1 – Review Your Donation Page and Website
Now this might seem obvious, but here’s the real question. When was the last time you really reviewed your donation page, how its presented on your website, and how people get to it?
Your donation page should be quick to complete and give people the options they need for their gift. It should also be included in several places on your website so people can find it where they are. This includes:
- your main menu navigation.
- your footer.
- in blog posts or long form content.
- on your social media.
- in your email signature.
- on your contact page.
#2 – Social Media Fundraiser
Various platforms have fundraising opportunities. The most obvious is Facebook. These are a great way to build awareness for a cause and allow people to dip their toe into your organization.
These often work best with smaller campaign amounts. The goal is to get in front of as many people as possible because of the social share options. Before you launch a social media fundraiser, prep your fans, followers, email list, board, volunteers, etc. Let them know it’s coming and encourage them to share.
#3 – Partner with (micro)Influencers
Influencers can be really effective at getting new faces looking at your organization. They have a base that trusts them and will check out other brands and organizations they follow.
This being said, it needs to be authentic and aligned to make sense.
Influencers can be:
- local (media personalities, business leaders, government officials).
- national (alumni, celebrities, philanthropists).
- online (YouTubers, influencers on a social media platform).
Long term partnerships can be more valuable as the message can be sent out more than once. This is a long term plan that can help you over time. Building relationships might start with a single post that can then continue to build and grow into bigger campaigns. You want it to feel real on both sides for audiences to participate.
#4 – Create long form content
Long form content can look like a blog post, YouTube video, podcast, etc. These are great ways for you to educate your audience, share impact and build loyalty from your audience.
While this might not directly lead to a donation, creating regular and consistent content gives you stuff to talk about in your email newsletters and your social content to keep people engaged and keep you top of mind. It also means you have reasons to reach out to people without an ask involved so they are ready when you do make that ask.
Make the content that is easiest for you so that you show up consistently!
#5 – Create a Promo Kit for your board
Your board members are your best ambassadors. Make it easy for them to share about your organization. Most importantly, make it easy for them to share the RIGHT message at the right time.
A promo kit is a great way to get the information together. This includes graphics, sample email and social media copy, information about your fundraising campaign, talking points, etc.
Don’t overthink it. Putting it into a Google doc or a Dropbox folder. Keep it easy and accessible.
#6 – Write a guest blog post or be a guest on a podcast
Getting in front of new audiences is critical to getting new donors. Collaborating with others allows you to get in front of someone else’s audience. You immediately have a certain level of trust with their readers and listeners.
Its a great opportunity for you to share your mission, impact and expand your reach. Even better, align your fundraising campaign message with the post or podcast so it’s a natural transition to asking for a donation.
#7 – Ask!
Now we don’t want to be asking all the time. But we do have to ask! In the online space this can look like:
- changing out you website header to highlight the current fundraising campaign.
- ensuring your content has great calls-to-action.
- putting clear information in your social media posts.
- one email newsletter one topic – don’t ask people to do too many things at once.
- put donate buttons everywhere it makes sense.
Conclusion
These are just a few of the ways you can increase your online donations. By putting effort into these elements, over time you’ll have more traffic coming to your online sources and increased donations from your website.